TANTO IRIE

Tanto Irie was born L. Anthony Garrick in Kingston, Jamaica, and raised in rural Trelawny. His friends gave him the name “Tanto.” He started in music in 1983 when he opened Tanto Productions Ltd., a record and video store in Kingston. He credits it with helping launch artists including Major Mackerel, Lt. Stitchie, Pinchers, Sanchez, Eddie Fitzroy and Sugar Minott.

After moving to the U.S. in the mid‑1980s, he hosted a weekly jazz program on KXCR in El Paso, Texas. That’s where Reggae Runnins was born, as a Saturday‑night reggae hour. The show then aired across the Four Corners region on Santa Fe’s Coyote Radio 102.5 FM and later on WNWK in New York. Over 17 years he hosted and produced concerts across Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado, bringing major reggae artists to audiences who were hearing many of them for the first time.

He came to South Florida in 1997 and began by producing and hosting monthly beach concerts. In 2001 he brought Reggae Runnins to HOT 105 FM (WHQT, Cox Media Group). HOT 105 calls it the #1 reggae show on the #1 urban station in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale market. Today he is founder, president and CEO of Reggae Runnins. The company offers:

• entertainment booking
• producing and promoting reggae artists
• live radio broadcasts from concerts, festivals and special events

He also produced and hosted the TV show Island Vibes, a series of travel documentaries filmed in Jamaica that aired on UPN (now My 33).

He also works with up‑and‑coming artists. As an Intercept Music Ambassador, he consulted for and mentored independent artists. Through Reggae Runnins he continues to guide indie artists building their careers. His advice to newcomers: be humble, be patient, be willing to learn, and never give up. In his words: “I want to see people come together through the music.”

• Festival & event emcee: He emceed the City of Sunrise’s Caribbean American Heritage Festival (June 6, 2026, with headliners Kevin Lyttle and the Code Red Band). He has also been a featured guest at the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival in Miramar.
• Benefit concerts & anniversary productions: Reggae Runnins’ 25th Anniversary / Hurricane Melissa Relief Benefit for Jamaica (February 8, 2026, ArtsPark, Hollywood FL) featured Third World, Burning Spear, Glen Washington and Kumar Fyah. Partners included the Broward County Cultural Division, The Rhythm Foundation and DVCAI.
• Live broadcasts & on‑air activations: remote broadcasts from concerts, festivals and brand events. He also co‑hosted a live broadcast with Jamaican radio legend Barry “G” tied to the Legends Easter Fete in Miramar.
• Artist interviews & live sessions: HOT 105’s “HOT Live” penthouse sessions, hosted by Tanto. Guests include Shaggy (2026), Mr. Vegas (2025, five parts), Julian Marley (2023) and Inner Circle with Mykal Rose (2019).
• Artist development: consulting and mentorship for independent reggae and Caribbean artists, and talent booking through Reggae Runnins.

• Lifetime Achievement Award (to Reggae Runnins and Tanto Irie), International Reggae & World Music Awards, 2014
• Clint O’Neil Radio Personality Award, People Profile Awards, 2017. The award is named for the man widely called the godfather of reggae in South Florida.
• Honorary award from the Caribbean Bar Association for contributions to reggae and Caribbean culture

• South Florida Caribbean News: “Reggae Runnins: Celebrating 25 Years of Rhythm on HOT 105 FM” (Jan 2026) — https://sflcn.com/reggae‑runnins‑celebrating‑25‑years‑of‑rhythm‑on‑hot‑105‑fm/
• Caribbean National Weekly: “Talking Reggae Runnins with Tanto Irie” (July 2017) — https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/caribbean‑breaking‑news‑featured/talking‑reggae‑runnins‑tanto‑irie/
• Jamaicans.com: “South Florida‑Based Jamaican DJ & Musician, Tanto Irie, Named Intercept Music Ambassador” — https://jamaicans.com/south‑florida‑based‑jamaican‑dj‑musician‑tanto‑irie‑named‑intercept‑music‑ambassador/
• South Florida Caribbean News: “Jamaica’s Reggae Radio Legend, Barry ‘G’ Invades Reggae Runnins’” — https://sflcn.com/jamaicas‑reggae‑radio‑legend‑barry‑g-invades‑reggae‑runnins/
• Caribbean Today: 30‑year career profile (25 of those years on HOT 105). This needs a direct link; I only found it as a headline.
• City of Sunrise: Caribbean American Heritage Festival 2026, emcee listing — https://www.sunrisefl.gov/departments‑services/leisure‑services/events/caribbean‑american‑heritage‑festival